Whine and Cheese

I've had my iPhone 6s for more than a couple of years now. I've not had a lot of problems with it, though the last major software update I did on my phone knocked out several favorite apps, but that's not Apple's fault or mine. Now I'm not the person who has to have the latest thing, but I went to the Apple Store today to take a look at the new iPhones.

Whenever I go to the Apple Store I feel like a kid in a candy store. I want a new laptop, a new iPad, an Apple Pen, a new Mac Mini, etc. Everything is so new and so colorful. I only need several thousand dollars to get everything I want with the memory I want.

Assisted by a furry namesake Genius, I broke down and bought a 256 GB iPhone XS. No pressure sales tactics, it just seemed to suit my needs. In fact, Marc the Apple Genius actually talked me out of buying a new iPad after I told him that I rarely used the one I bought seven years ago. He's a married man with two kids and he understands that sometimes people may buy things unnecessarily. I decided to put the idea of a new iPad on the backburner until my tax return shows up next year.

After putting a major dent in my savings account, I left for home with my new iPhone. It took me a while to figure out how to transfer the apps and data over to it, as it involved updating the software on my desktop at home and iTunes. Then I spent several hours waiting for the apps to finish downloading.

While having the new iPhone is pretty fun so far, I now wonder what to do with my old phones, as I now have three of them. I may convert the most recent to an iPod for the gym.

After having the iPhone 4 for a couple of years or more, I went to the Apple Store Friday and blew a considerable amount of money getting the iPhone 5s. It's not like I am one of those people who must have the latest thing, but when I do buy new, I figure I might as well get the newest.


iDevices over the years...
My love affair with Apple products started back in the mid-1990's when I broke down and bought a Performa desktop computer when I lived in the Kansas City area. I blew about $2400 for that thing (not a small amount of money then or now) and was amazed when I got it all put together in my little apartment. With my buzzing dial-up connection, I was introduced to the world of home internet usage, with all the chat rooms and low KB photos I could download. With me being "in the closet" but very curious about things and not being very social, it was an outlet I desperately needed.

When I moved back to the Cincinnati area in 2000, and bought a house in 2001, I replaced the now obsolete Performa with a new Apple desktop "tower" computer and learned about the miracle of high-speed internet. In 2003, freshly out of the closet, I started looming on different websites. I started this journal in August of that year. And that year I bought my first iPod above on the far left. With that little item, I became very popular at work. I was the first person to have one in my office and the world around me wanted to see it, to touch it, to listen to it. One smart ass at a training course thought it was awesome, but remarked that he "couldn't find one decent song on it."

Eventually, the ipod started dying and resurrecting it became a chore. I started referring to it as my "iZombie" because I managed to bring it back from the dead a couple of times. Sadly, without the use of supernatural means, the iZombie breathed its last and I had to upgrade to the 80 GB iPod above (third from left), which I still use today, filled to nowhere-near-full capacity, and contains music I'd guess the same jerk would not find entertaining.

As I started getting larger tax returns, I started buying more Apple products, including an iBook laptop, my first iPhone, an Apple TV (for Netflix and such), etc. When the last desktop finally crashed and burned, I bought a Mac Mini to replace it and was amazed how something the size of a cookie tin could do so much. While I had not been having any problems with my iPhone 4, I knew it was time to upgrade. It was a bit slower in some cases and was starting to show some wear. It's 16 GB memory was also starting to become an issue with photographs and apps taking up more and more room.

So Friday's purchase of the 64 GB iPhone 5s was fun. I'm still trying to figure out Siri's usefulness (though I switched the voice to him rather than a her). The camera is definitely better. And the fingerprint ID system is rather cool. When I did put all my stuff on it, I did it as a "restore" which was a mistake as I think I lost a lot of the new free apps on it, but I'll replace those eventually.

My new phone does give me a slightly warm fuzzy feeling like I had before with my first iPod. On a lark, I tried to power the old iZombie up again over the weekend, but it has definitely given up the ghost. In a few decades, I'm guessing there will be a museum who would love to have it.

I'm sure you guys are getting sick of all of these pics of me. Suffah! :)

I do wish the iPhone camera had a timer. This reminds me of a bad profile pic minus the flash.

It is Green Shirt Thursday though and I'm happy Friday is nearly here.

Well, this weekend I took the plunge and bought an iPhone. After going to many a movie, bar, and stage play and seeing the large sea of iPhones out there, I figured it was time. I have to admit, I'm loving it. I've downloaded all sorts of applications, some free, others dirt-cheap. My wallpaper, like my old phone, is my Grizzly toon (the 2009 update version). I also love the camera and took this narcissistic pic this morning (another red shirt photo... hmmm). The beard makes my face look fuller.

Question: How many folks have a case for theirs? I hate just carting it around in my pocket for fear I'll scratch it. Any thoughts?

Saturday -- Sordid Lives the movie and game night with the guys. Too fun! Last night, I did the final outline for the third Grizzly & the Bear Patrol installment. Setting the pages tonight I think.

Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness rambling... it's Monday.